The bill before us was the first substantive piece of legislation considered by the 111th Congress. In a matter of days, it could be one of the first substantive measures signed into law by the 44th President of the United States. And despite all the promises of openness and bipartisanship, at the end of the day it will have been considered not once, not twice, but three separate times in the Hous... Read more »
I have had the opportunity to review the proposed rules for the 111th Congress, and I plan to support their adoption. There is one change in particular that I believe will make our Committee more transparent, and that’s the requirement that all amendments considered by this committee will be posted to the majority website along with the outcome of the vote within three days. Previously, only those... Read more »
In addition to adopting Committee rules and subcommittee assignments, we’re also welcoming new members to the panel today. On our side of the aisle, it is my pleasure to introduce five dynamic new members. Representative Brett Guthrie from the 2nd District of Kentucky brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Committee, from his time as a businessman to his work in the Kentucky State Sena... Read more »
Good evening Chairman Miller, and thank you. It’s a pleasure to be back alongside you, leading this important panel at a time when the issues confronting our education and workforce systems are critical to economic recovery. We have a history of civility and cooperation on this Committee, whether we agree on the issues or not. That’s a track record I’m proud of, and one that I expect we’ll maintai... Read more »
Discrimination in the workplace is wrong. Paying women lower wages for the same work is wrong. It’s also illegal. Congress enacted protections to ensure equal pay for equal work in 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was added to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Congress acted again to protect women and all Americans from workplace discrimination with enactment of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Together... Read more »
I rise in opposition to this ill-considered and over-reaching legislation. Proponents of this bill claim it simply reverses a May 29, 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision and clarifies congressional opposition to wage discrimination. In reality, however, this bill will set into motion a series of unintended consequences that will ripple through the economy and plague workers, small businesses, and the... Read more »
